Laverdure is a member of and former chief legal counsel for the Apsaalooke Nation (Crow Tribe), and now serves as Deputy Assistant Director of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior. He also worked as a tax attorney in private practice, and taught at the Michigan State University College of Law, where he was founding director of the Indigenous Law Program. While in law school, Laverdure was president of the Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA), and was selected as the organization's student of the year.

For a complete list of the winners in Indian Country Today, click here. Winners will be recognized at the 35th Annual Indians Progress in Business Awards Event, Thursday, Oct. 21, in Albuquerque, N.M.